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Illinois Lawmakers Reject Governor’s Changes to Gun Bill

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (KMOX) – On the court set deadline to enact concealed carry legislation, the Illinois Senate and House voted to reject changes Governor Pat Quinn made to the gun bill.

The House voted 77-31 to overrides Quinn’s ammendatory veto of the bill approved in May. The Senate later voted 41-17 to override the veto, meaning the original legislation becomes law.

Illinois is the last state in the nation to enact such a law.

Gov. Quinn called today’s action “extremely disappointing.”

“Following a weekend of horrific violence in Chicago in which at least 70 people were shot and 12 killed, this was the wrong move for public safety in Illinois,” he said in a statement. “It was wrong on May 31 and it’s wrong today.” READ: Gov. Pat Quinn’s full statement.

The legislation allows anyone with a Firearm Owner’s Identification card who has passed a background check and undergone gun-safety training of 16 hours to obtain a concealed-carry permit for $150.

The Illinois State Police now have six months to set up a system to start accepting applications. Spokeswoman Monique Bond said police expect 300,000 applications in the first year.

Owners of private property also could ban firearms on their property, but would have to post signs indicating they don’t allow guns.

Earlier this week, Quinn announced he was using his amendatory veto power to make a series of changes to the legislation.

CBS Chicago reports that the senate voted to reject the governor’s package of changes, but instead voted to keep three of his changes in the bill.

Among those changes, locations like schools and government buildings where concealed firearms are prohibited by the law would not have to post signs regarding the ban.

Also anyone who has a concealed gun needs to immediately tell police they are carrying, and finally the measure requires mental health information be provided to the Illinois State Police when someone is applying for a concealed carry permit.